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Friday, 6 March 2009

Speak up, speak clear, say it now!

Bishop Nick Baines reminds me it’s the 25th anniversary of Pastor Martin Neimoller’s death — “they came for the communists, I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist...” It’s a chilling reminder that, given the choice, we speak up against racism and anti-Semitism too early, not too late.

On the subject of noticing, not being deceived by the veneer, and speaking up, I admire the poet and commentator Vanessa Hidary:

15 comments:

When reading the words of Niemoeller, I am reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 2 and how far Christianity has advanced since then in terms of love and tolerance :-‘For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Words that would leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any Christian who tried to say them today...

I agree these words are easily misunderstood in dangerous and shameful ways. I suggest you read them as what they are in historical context. Obviously he is talking about particular people, and it would be anachronistic to read medieval anti-Semitism back into them, partly for the obvious reason that the writer is a Jew to the fingertips who called himself a “Hebrew of the Hebrews.” with a personal track record of hunting down Chritians.

Good article on I Thess in Hershel Shanks (ed), Xty and rabbinic Judaism, p 113ff

The whole use of the term "the Jews" in pre AD70 discourse is intensely problematic to discern; see the writings, e.g. E. P. Sanders esp Paul and Palestinian Judaism.

Steven, which commentator, please? I've just looked at 4 commentaries, and can't find anyone suggesting that I Thess is not Pauline. Who did you have in mind?

Erika — Great to hear from you — hope all's well. Sorry not to express myself more clearly; what I meant was that if we are wondering whether to say something or not, if in doubt, speak up earlier not later. It was a reacion to Niemoller's saying. I'm sure it is true of every "ism" as you suggest. Even if nothing abusive is going on, the raising of the possibility helps to exclude it. I've met people who say "I'm not racist, but..." and then express a racist viewpoint in a kind of Alan Paretridge "It's not racist because I say it's not racist" way.

Steven, I've checked again and not only is the section you mention spot on for Pauline style and vocab, but, of course what it says is very close to the arguemnt of early Romans on Wrath against all, which is pretty much rock solid Pauline. Which commentary did you read suggesting otheriwse, and on what grounds? I'm intrigued.

I almost forgot: Six million died without having the option of giggling on bar stools;

Almost forgot: that concentration camp survivors are almost a dying generation that my children may never have the sensation of seeing in person;

And if you must see me as that blood-sucking Jew, see me as that pesty mosquito that bites and sucks the prejudice right out of you. Just feel the need to say I can't be the only exception to the rule,

Just the one right now using my poetry as a tool, to follow KRS-One I will only uplift!

And maybe change just one heart tonight.

Powerful poetry, powerful cause. Hats off to Martin Niemoller. who in later life rejected his earlier conservative nationalism and campaigned for international peace, and to Vanessa Hidary, who is an ambassador of peace and respect.

Peter I'll look into it as best I can. So sorry about your prob... see what i can do (sometimes Blogger is a bit clunky and republising solves the problem). I'll try leaving a comment and see what happens.

Peter, I've done a resubmit on the piece, and posted a comment successfully on it. Seems to be working now, but let me know if probs continue and I'll.. scratch my head and look lost! Or try again. Or something.

I think the author of Dry Bones Dance has something apposite to say to this; although Niemoller wasn't female, he did learn that obedience wasn't all it was cracked up to be, after all. One of her commenters points out John 16:2, about the links between sheer murderousness and religious identity, as well: all relevant to identifying when and where to speak out.

Child of God by adoption and grace, husband of Lucy, father of five, jumped-up vicar (Area Bishop of Buckingham).
Born Edinburgh. Deacon 1979, Priest 1980, Bishop 2003. Cambridge MA, Oxford DPhil — ‘I am a doctor, but not the kind that helps people.’ I trained for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall. I have worked in various C of E contexts, urban and suburban, as well as in prison.